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After the “grandstanding and overstepping” charges, DAVNOR SP STANDS TALL

March 3-9,2011

Pante, 11 police chiefs give presence in session
By Cha Monforte

The Davao del Norte Sangguniang Panlalawigan, reeling from charges that they were grandstanding and overstepping on the shoes of the executive department, stood taller and much dignified to among observers when all the chiefs of police including their provincial director paid presence to the SP’s invitation during last Monday’s session.

The invitation was first moved by Senior Boardmember Shirley Belen Aala in last week’s session whereby PNP Davao del Norte provincial director PSSupt. Jose Volpane Pante and all his 11 chiefs of police stations throughout the province be invited to meet with the SP members and shed light on peace and order situations as well as present police programs and directions.

PSSupt. Pante was visibly on jovial mood as police vehicles ferrying his chiefs of police (COPs) came arriving one after another at the entrance grounds of the SP building, rear of the main Capitol building in Mankilam.
He said, in an interview with the Valley & City Chronicle, he was more than willing to meet for the second time the SP with his COPs. Earlier, the SP gave Pante a certificate of appreciation for his two-year tour of duty in the province.

When asked as to whether he would be leaving the province soonest as he earlier bared during his first SP appearance last month that “at the most” he would be out by February 17, he replied, “Wala pang papalit sa akin” minutes before he took the rostrum as a resource person.

QUESTION HOUR
During the session’s question hour, he informed the SP that three police officers are aspiring to be his replacement.

The mood of the question hour was set by Boardmember Aala who first gave a privilege speech.
She said that the SP’s invitation was “not a show of arrogance” but more of a “getting to know each other”.
She challenged the police to join hands in knowing the majesty of law as an instrument of justice in the collective goal of attaining peace and order throughout the province.

Presiding Vice Governor Victorio “Baby” Suaybaguio Jr introduced the members of the provincial board to the police officers.

Pante then introduced to the body one by one his COPs, and reported the peace and order efforts of the police as well as the current programs and projects in the provincial PNP and in various municipal and city police stations.

He said that the police force is facing the problem of scarcity of policemen against the high number of populace.

At the end, he called for collaborative efforts of the police, local government units and citizenry in fighting crimes occuring in the province.

Boardmember Antonio Lagunzad, in his interpellation to Pante, asked the police “to treat as urgent matter” the request of SP members, and “your presence (with us requesting) is most important.”

On the other hand, Aala asked Pante “to have a body count” of the men of respective police stations following her earlier raising of the issue that some crimes were allegedly perpetrated by men in uniform, “which happened both in the local and national fronts.”

ON GGM ROBBERIES
Also in the same question hour, Tagum City chief of police PSupt. Ruel Neil Salcedo took the rostrum and reported developments of the Gaisano Grand Mall robberies.

He said that at presstime the police is still on the manhunt for the suspects while two suspects were arrested recently arrested.

The police, he added, is also verifyng if the suspects belong to Ozamiz-based Kuratong Baleleng syndicate.
At the end of the question hour, Pante and his COPs were given certificates of appreciation for their attendance in the session, where a lively exchange of information and ideas between the SP members and police officers was noted.